where did the expression "no flies on him" originate?

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where did the expression "no flies on him" originate?

2006-12-25 14:02:47 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay

2 answers

It comes from an old hymn titled "There Are Flies on Me, There Are Flies on You, but There Ain't No Flies on Jesus".

2006-12-25 16:04:51 · answer #1 · answered by wild_turkey_willie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋

In the 19th century, to say that "there are no flies on him" of somebody meant that the person was alert and active, probably by allusion to cattle that move around enough to deny flies a landing place.

2006-12-25 14:26:30 · answer #2 · answered by Jay 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋